Warmkraft Puerto Rico LLC, a division of Tennessee-based Perimeter Insect Guard, plans to invest $16 million in a new facility in Puerto Rico that will treat military uniforms with insect-repellent technology. The plant will be located at the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company’s Guanajibo Industrial Park in Mayagüez, bringing a long-vacant industrial building back into use after more than 15 years.
The company said the project is expected to create 56 jobs with an annual payroll of some $3.27 million. The facility will specialize in treating military clothing with permethrin, an insect-repellent compound designed to protect service members from mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and Zika. The technology has been used on more than 25 million military uniforms over the past two decades and has received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The investment comes as military planners continue to emphasize force readiness in regions, including Latin America, where insect-borne diseases remain a significant threat. Puerto Rico has dealt with recurring mosquito-borne outbreaks: dengue reached epidemic levels on the island in 2024 and 2025, while public health officials continue monitoring sporadic Zika cases. Supporters say the project highlights Puerto Rico’s growing role in U.S. national security.
The island remains one of the leading pharmaceutical production hubs under U.S. jurisdiction, with a significant presence in medical device manufacturing, biosimilars and life sciences research. Economic development officials have promoted those sectors to attract reshoring and nearshoring investment.